Equine Functional Therapy - Sophie Vandenberg

28/09/2026

Episode 105 - Post Colic Surgery Rehabilitation

Returning to work after colic surgery many not be straightforward as looking at incisions closing.

In this episode, we discuss rehabilitation following colic surgery, including how abdominal surgery can affect core strength, posture, breathing and movement. We outline a staged approach that begins with wound management and gut health, then progresses through stability, functional activation, strength and a carefully assessed return to riding.

We discuss:
🔄 Why the current timeline of return to work is not a complete measure of recovery
🩹 How scar tissue and internal adhesions may influence comfort and function
🌿 Early priorities including wound management, circulation, gut health, hoof balance and breathing
🥕 How feeding posture can support balance and gentle abdominal activity
💪 How to tell the difference between true core activation and abdominal bracing as exercises progress
🐴 What to assess before returning a horse to riding or normal paddock activity

https://open.spotify.com/episode/5RhQZCNvYvRhtpdmkF3z7y

The Equine Functional Posture Podcast · Episode

24/09/2026

Such a great tip - small things can make such a big difference!

23/09/2026

Not an anatomy model for a change but still beautiful! Loving my Darwin trip ☺️

21/09/2026

Sometimes the most powerful change comes from doing less, waiting longer and observing more carefully.

This episode is a reflective discussion about a recent two-day equine posture clinic hosted by Dr Raquel involving five very different horses. Differing levels of balance, stability, communication and mental engagement shaped each horse's response, and we explain why the same exercise may need to look completely different for each individual horse.

We discuss:

🌱 Why doing less and allowing time to process can create meaningful change
⚖️ How balance and stability can influence focus, behaviour and willingness
🤲 Why the handler's body position, softness and intention affect the horse's movement
🧩 How exercises, poles, aids and rewards can be adapted to the individual horse
🐴 What five contrasting horses revealed about forelimb instability, posture, bracing and mental disengagement
👀 Why stopping, refusing or looking away can be considered valuable communication rather than disobedience

Apple podcast: https://link.msgsndr.com/sp/8c91ac236b2

17/09/2026

Episode 103 - Guest: Sharon May-Davis - Grading ECVM (Equine Complex Vertebral Malformation)

ECVM is more than simply identifying an anatomical variation in the lower cervical spine.

In this episode, Dr. Raquel Butler and Sophie Vandenberg are joined by Dr. Sharon May-Davis PhD to explore the history, research and grading of Equine Complex Vertebral Malformation (ECVM), and what different presentations may mean for the individual horse.

We discuss:
🔍 How ECVM was first identified and how the research has developed
📊 How the C6 grading system works and why Grade 4 horses may require further support and investigation
⚖️ The difference between unilateral and bilateral ECVM presentations clinically
🦴 How changes to the longus colli may influence cervical stability, posture and movement
🐴 Early signs to observe including tripping, toe dragging, hypersensitivity and unusual behaviour
✅ Why early investigation, appropriate management and responsible breeding decisions matter
https://open.spotify.com/episode/5YKmWS5VW84IchEnwPYI8q

The Equine Functional Posture Podcast · Episode

17/09/2026

Pain in horses is not simply a direct measure of tissue damage.

In this episode, we explore what pain actually is, how the nervous system contributes to the pain experience, and why persistent pain can become much more complex than simply finding an injured structure.

We discuss:
⚡ Acute pain versus persistent or chronic pain
🩹 Why pain can continue after tissues have healed
🧠 How previous experiences can influence future pain responses
🔄 Central sensitisation and an increasingly sensitive nervous system
🌍 The biological, psychological, social, environmental and lifestyle factors that can influence pain
🐴 How pain may appear through changes in behaviour, posture, movement and facial expression
https://open.spotify.com/episode/12IIRxxYsUn0tXxMdaEJti

The Equine Functional Posture Podcast · Episode

26/08/2026

Cannot believe we have made it to Episode 100!! Thankyou all for listening, sharing and giving us wonderful feedback about how this podcast has helped your horses! 💕

Episode 100: Degenerative Suspensory Ligament Desmitis... Or Something Else?

A dropped fetlock is often associated with Degenerative Suspensory Ligament Desmitis (DSLD), but does a sinking fetlock always indicate this degenerative disease?

Today we explore the current research around DSLD, discuss where the evidence is strong, where it remains uncertain, and why whole-body posture and loading may be an important part of the picture.

We discuss:

⚖ Suspensory ligament, pelvic and spinal function influences on distal limb loading
🩻Diagnostic limitations, training surfaces, hoof balance and inflammation
✅Practical ways to support a horse who has sinking fetlocks

A key question throughout the episode: are we sometimes diagnosing a degenerative ligament disorder when we are actually seeing the consequences of chronic postural dysfunction and inappropriate loading?

A dropped fetlock is often associated with Degenerative Suspensory Ligament Desmitis (DSLD), but does a sinking fetlock always indicate this degenerative disease? Today we explore the current research around DSLD, discuss where the evidence is strong, where it remains uncertain, and why...

22/08/2026

When should we start riding a young horse?!

There are strong opinions at both ends of the spectrum: start them young so the body adapts to load, or wait until the growth plates have closed before riding. In Part 2 of our growth plate series, we look at why the answer is much more individual than simply choosing an age.

We discuss the difference between loading and overloading, and why skeletal maturity alone doesn’t necessarily mean a horse is physically prepared to carry a rider.

In this episode we explore:

✅How young horses can be conditioned before they are ridden
✅Straight lines, proprioceptive exercises, transitions and varied surfaces
✅Building core strength, joint stability and body awareness
✅Recognising fatigue and changes in posture under load
✅Why recovery time matters as bone adapts to exercise
✅The importance of hoof care, saddle fit, bodywork and the horse’s environment
✅Exercises and loading patterns to be cautious with during growth

When should we start riding a young horse? There are strong opinions at both ends of the spectrum: start them young so the body adapts to load, or wait until the growth plates have closed before riding. In Part 2 of our growth plate series, we look at why the answer is much more individual than...

24/06/2026

Did you know you are IRREPLACABLE in your horse's pathway forward for a more balanced, functional and enjoyable experience of life? We can often downplay our own role, and feel that we need to keep searching and find the perfect bodyworker, saddle fitter or hoofcare professional. There are all very important members of the team but you are also just as valuable!! Very blessed to have many clients who see their role as being a steward of their horse’s lifestyle and movement.

16/06/2026

Are you activating your horse's muscles well? When done correctly activations may be some of the most valuable exercises we have in creating a responsive and stable posture for our horses!!

Activations: Waking Up Better Movement

Activations are one of the ways we can help prepare the horse’s body for better posture, stability and movement. They are not just exercises to “switch muscles on”, but a way to improve awareness, motor control and the quality of muscle recruitment before and during work.

In this episode, we unpack:

✅What activations are and why they matter in postural rehabilitation
💪How we carry out activations with specificity to target specific muscles
🧘How activations prime nerves and muscles for co-ordination and balance
🧐The difference between true activation and bracing
🏋️‍♂️Why rest, release and time under tension are so important for making the activation effective
🥕Examples of activations including tail shifts, belly lifts and carrot stretches
🔄How activations fit into the bigger picture of assessment, exercise and reassessment

Master the essential, proven, science-based tools to understand posture, movement and behaviour from the inside out - so you can create real, lasting change without overwhelm, pressure or confusion. Enrol now and transform how you support your horse’s body, balance and wellbeing: Equine...